Ask the Author: Karl Wiggins
Answered Questions (16)
Karl Wiggins
Kelly, apologies I've only just seen this. Are you still interested in purchasing the 'Vodka' books? Karl
Karl Wiggins
Wilma, please forgive me, I've only just come across your post. The truth is that we were forced to unpublish due to ... well, threats from Gypsies and one particular sociopath who plagued Harpie to the point that he actually drove her out of town. He used to shout "Hey, Harpie, show us all the scars where you cut yourself," across the pub when everyone could hear. She is deeply ashamed of her self-mutilation, yet I persuaded her to write about it. Thanks for the Vodka is 2002. 2005 discusses her self-harm.
He would also shout out about the sexual abuse she suffered at the hands of her father.
As I'm sure you gathered she publishes anonymously, but we were in danger of her family finding out and reading the books.
However, if you wish to purchase the other books, I'll happily re-publish in the US for just a few hours, giving you chance to purchase, and then I'll unpublish again quickly.
Once again, apologies that it's taken me so long to answer.
He would also shout out about the sexual abuse she suffered at the hands of her father.
As I'm sure you gathered she publishes anonymously, but we were in danger of her family finding out and reading the books.
However, if you wish to purchase the other books, I'll happily re-publish in the US for just a few hours, giving you chance to purchase, and then I'll unpublish again quickly.
Once again, apologies that it's taken me so long to answer.
Karl Wiggins
Chantell, please forgive me, I've only just come across your post. The truth is that we were forced to unpublish due to ... well, threats from Gypsies and one particular sociopath who plagued Harpie to the point that he actually drove her out of town. He used to shout "Hey, Harpie, show us all the scars where you cut yourself," across the pub when everyone could hear. She is deeply ashamed of her self-mutilation, yet I persuaded her to write about it. Thanks for the Vodka is 2002. 2005 discusses her self-harm.
He would also shout out about the sexual abuse she suffered at the hands of her father.
As I'm sure you gathered she publishes anonymously, but we were in danger of her family finding out and reading the books.
However, if you wish to purchase the other books, I'll happily re-publish in the US for just a few hours, giving you chance to purchase, and then I'll unpublish again quickly.
Once again, apologies that it's taken me so long to answer.
He would also shout out about the sexual abuse she suffered at the hands of her father.
As I'm sure you gathered she publishes anonymously, but we were in danger of her family finding out and reading the books.
However, if you wish to purchase the other books, I'll happily re-publish in the US for just a few hours, giving you chance to purchase, and then I'll unpublish again quickly.
Once again, apologies that it's taken me so long to answer.
Karl Wiggins
Hahaha David, let me know how you get on, and in the meantime have a great Christmas
Karl Wiggins
The best thing about being a writer is the thought that someone, somewhere will read my words and hopefully enjoy them.
That's it
That's it
Karl Wiggins
I find it hard not to get inspired. I see humour all around me. Sometimes I wish I could suffer from writer's block because it would give me a chance to catch up.
As a writer I'm a bit of a cheap because I simply write what everybody else is thinking but doesn't dare say.
As a writer I'm a bit of a cheap because I simply write what everybody else is thinking but doesn't dare say.
Karl Wiggins
Doug, apologies I've only just come across this. Yes, I have read Karl Hiasson, although I must admit it was some time ago. I remember at the time enjoying his work, and his humour, but in all honesty I don't think I'd go back to his books. If you're looking for a funny author, try Danny King. I think he's brilliant. I'd recommend starting on 'The Hitman Diaries' but he has a couple of dozen good books out that are easy reading and funny
Karl Wiggins
David, apologies I've only just come across this question. I have no idea, is the answer, but if I had to take a stab in the dark I'd say it's possibly got something to do with the amount of competition out there. Some authors are better marketers than they are writers, which is tragic, but with Amazon publishing over one million eBooks per year it's hard not to get lost in the mix
Karl Wiggins
Wally, apologies I've only just seen this. For me, the book. I struggle for months, sometimes a year or more trying to find an appropriate title. I write loads of them down, and some are actually quite good, but they don't really fir the book.
A book’s title is possibly the most important but also the hardest line to write. It has to grab the reader by the scruff of the neck and make him buy the book, and as such we really need to give it the respect it deserves.
There’s no guarantee, of course, that a good title will cause you to love the book, any more than a good pick-up line means the girl will love the guy (for a title is really nothing more than a pick-up line), but a bad title guarantees you’ll never find out, because in all probability you won’t open the book to take a peek inside and you certainly won’t buy it.
Here’s an Amazing title I found on Amazon; ‘Depressed and anxious – the Dialectical Behaviour Therapy Workbook for Overcoming Depression and Anxiety.’ It doesn’t really grab you at all, does it? The author needs to liven the title up a bit; ‘Sorry-Arsed and Scared Crapless Vampire’ has a much better ring to it. It’s always good if you can get the word ‘vampire’ somewhere in the title.
‘Anxiety and Depression for Dummies’ is another one that’s nuts, isn’t it. ‘Rattle-Brained Mallet-Head hits the Jelly Beans’ would attract more buys to this book, wouldn’t it?
I found a book called ‘Politics – A treatise on Government.’ He must have sold all ten copies to his mum! He could have called it ‘Vote for David Cameron.’ Granted the title’s not too exciting but it’s a book about rushing enthusiastically into the cubicle expecting big things, only to get a pathetic little fart.
A book’s title is possibly the most important but also the hardest line to write. It has to grab the reader by the scruff of the neck and make him buy the book, and as such we really need to give it the respect it deserves.
There’s no guarantee, of course, that a good title will cause you to love the book, any more than a good pick-up line means the girl will love the guy (for a title is really nothing more than a pick-up line), but a bad title guarantees you’ll never find out, because in all probability you won’t open the book to take a peek inside and you certainly won’t buy it.
Here’s an Amazing title I found on Amazon; ‘Depressed and anxious – the Dialectical Behaviour Therapy Workbook for Overcoming Depression and Anxiety.’ It doesn’t really grab you at all, does it? The author needs to liven the title up a bit; ‘Sorry-Arsed and Scared Crapless Vampire’ has a much better ring to it. It’s always good if you can get the word ‘vampire’ somewhere in the title.
‘Anxiety and Depression for Dummies’ is another one that’s nuts, isn’t it. ‘Rattle-Brained Mallet-Head hits the Jelly Beans’ would attract more buys to this book, wouldn’t it?
I found a book called ‘Politics – A treatise on Government.’ He must have sold all ten copies to his mum! He could have called it ‘Vote for David Cameron.’ Granted the title’s not too exciting but it’s a book about rushing enthusiastically into the cubicle expecting big things, only to get a pathetic little fart.
Karl Wiggins
Sharon, apologies I've only just seen this. What I really think makes a great story is a sudden twist at the end when you say "Wow, I never saw that coming."
I have so much admiration for those writers with outstanding, far-fetched, comical, sometimes brutal, often ludicrous and downright fab imaginations. I have never, ever written fiction in my life because I completely lack the artistry, yet there are so many writers who allow their imaginations to fly, build a plot, build a sub-plot and continue to write superb story lines in that fashion.
All I’ve ever written is from my observations of life. I’m a piss-taker, which doesn’t necessarily make for a great writer, but it’s what I do. I don’t take my subject matter too seriously, and have little patience for anyone who does.
But I do enjoy reading fiction, and apart from the twist it has to be real. I recently read a book placed in the bad lands of Bermondsey, South-East London, but the author failed completely when attempting to write conversations in the colloquial dialect or using the cultural nuances of the area. Nobody expects an author to write in the Glottal Stop (Oh' Ken' Row' for Old Kent Road and so on), it would be impossible to read, but at least try and make the gangsters sound tough.
I have so much admiration for those writers with outstanding, far-fetched, comical, sometimes brutal, often ludicrous and downright fab imaginations. I have never, ever written fiction in my life because I completely lack the artistry, yet there are so many writers who allow their imaginations to fly, build a plot, build a sub-plot and continue to write superb story lines in that fashion.
All I’ve ever written is from my observations of life. I’m a piss-taker, which doesn’t necessarily make for a great writer, but it’s what I do. I don’t take my subject matter too seriously, and have little patience for anyone who does.
But I do enjoy reading fiction, and apart from the twist it has to be real. I recently read a book placed in the bad lands of Bermondsey, South-East London, but the author failed completely when attempting to write conversations in the colloquial dialect or using the cultural nuances of the area. Nobody expects an author to write in the Glottal Stop (Oh' Ken' Row' for Old Kent Road and so on), it would be impossible to read, but at least try and make the gangsters sound tough.
Karl Wiggins
Bruce Lee. He's the hardest at everything
Karl Wiggins
Enjoy it! Enjoy your writing. If you’re struggling at it and are of the belief system that you’ve got to write 1000 words a day no matter what, you’ll find yourself approaching your work with about as much enthusiasm as you carry the shopping in from the car. And trust me, the reader can tell.
Secondly, if you’ve got writers’ block then stop writing. Take six months off; spend a year at the beach, hitch-hike around the world, whatever. You’ll come back refreshed with so many thoughts and words flowing around your brain, pulsating and swimming, knocking into one another until you can finally ambush them and leak them out onto the page. This, believe it or not, is how I write
Secondly, if you’ve got writers’ block then stop writing. Take six months off; spend a year at the beach, hitch-hike around the world, whatever. You’ll come back refreshed with so many thoughts and words flowing around your brain, pulsating and swimming, knocking into one another until you can finally ambush them and leak them out onto the page. This, believe it or not, is how I write
Karl Wiggins
I have never, ever written fiction in my life because I completely lack the artistry, yet there are so many writers who allow their imaginations to fly, build a plot, build a sub-plot and continue to write superb story lines in that fashion.
All I’ve ever written is from my observations of life. I don’t take my subject matter too seriously, and have little patience for anyone who does. I’m well aware that not everybody ‘gets’ me, but those that don’t can read the next guy’s stuff. I have no problem with that.
We walk a fine line, us writers, living in fear and dread that we might upset someone. And we’re often judged as people by what we write, even though we may be simply playing with words. Critics judge the author as opposed to judging what he writes, which is about as silly as judging the persona of a chef after eating something he’s cooked. I once wrote a poem about a rape, yet that doesn’t mean I’m a rapist. It just means I wrote a poem about a rape.
I’m going off track here, haven’t I? I tend to do that a lot. No, I don’t write novels, but HUGE respect to all the writers out there for their outstanding, far-fetched, comical, sometimes brutal, often ludicrous and downright fab imaginations. I have nothing but admiration for them.
All I’ve ever written is from my observations of life. I don’t take my subject matter too seriously, and have little patience for anyone who does. I’m well aware that not everybody ‘gets’ me, but those that don’t can read the next guy’s stuff. I have no problem with that.
We walk a fine line, us writers, living in fear and dread that we might upset someone. And we’re often judged as people by what we write, even though we may be simply playing with words. Critics judge the author as opposed to judging what he writes, which is about as silly as judging the persona of a chef after eating something he’s cooked. I once wrote a poem about a rape, yet that doesn’t mean I’m a rapist. It just means I wrote a poem about a rape.
I’m going off track here, haven’t I? I tend to do that a lot. No, I don’t write novels, but HUGE respect to all the writers out there for their outstanding, far-fetched, comical, sometimes brutal, often ludicrous and downright fab imaginations. I have nothing but admiration for them.
Karl Wiggins
Haha, in my book 'Calico Jack in your Garden' I discuss stupid questions I found on the Internet. Not that yours is a stupid question at all, but it reminded me of one. Here it is, with my answer;
“Is it true? The penis mightier than the sword?” (If you say so, sure, but if I were you I wouldn’t go getting into any swordfights with just your dick in your hand)
“Is it true? The penis mightier than the sword?” (If you say so, sure, but if I were you I wouldn’t go getting into any swordfights with just your dick in your hand)
Karl Wiggins
Haha I don't get writer's block at all. I just never seem to have the time to write. I'm so excited about my next book, yet I can't see it being finished before Christmas.
My wife, Sue, has got used to me by now, but I suspect she doesn’t really approve. It must be terribly hard to live with a writer because his mind is always in two or more places at once. I make every effort to stay in the present. If anyone comes into my study when I’m writing, which they do a lot, I immediately take my glasses off, spin around in my chair and attempt to focus entirely on the conversation. My face possibly gives off the impression of full attention, but inside I’m in turmoil. I’m making every effort to focus on the conversation in front of me whilst still holding onto the thoughts in my head that I’m desperate to get down on paper.
I’ve held onto thoughts for months, possibly years, and at times it can be very stressful. My mind’s all over the place.
I also see humorous material - which is my genre - all around me so I keep adding to my list all the time. Ha ha, I wish I could get writer’s block once in a while to give myself a break.
I mentioned above that it must be tough on a writer’s family, and that’s very true. Although I work in construction management I’m hopeless at D.I.Y. A lot of blokes at work say, “There are a few jobs the missus wants me to do over the weekend,” but Sue does most of the D.I.Y. jobs in our house, only calling on me for something that requires strength. She’s a very hard worker, a machine, but tends to tut and sigh about it a lot. You can’t really blame her, can you?
I’ve got a friend who sits on the sofa and snuggles up with her boyfriend every night to watch telly. She could never live with a writer. But saying that I don’t really think Sue understands or appreciates the mind of a writer either, even after all these years. I sometimes feel she thinks I’m wasting my time, but it’s not as if I’m down the bookies or the pub or chasing other women!
There are TV programmes we like to watch together and as I feel family time is important I’ll always come in and watch with them. So I’ll give up writing time to sit together and watch a TV show, and as soon as it starts both Sue and our son get out their I Pads and start searching out stuff on those. So once again I feel like I’m on my own in the room, and want to get back to my writing.
It’s a wretched occupation, that of the writer.
My wife, Sue, has got used to me by now, but I suspect she doesn’t really approve. It must be terribly hard to live with a writer because his mind is always in two or more places at once. I make every effort to stay in the present. If anyone comes into my study when I’m writing, which they do a lot, I immediately take my glasses off, spin around in my chair and attempt to focus entirely on the conversation. My face possibly gives off the impression of full attention, but inside I’m in turmoil. I’m making every effort to focus on the conversation in front of me whilst still holding onto the thoughts in my head that I’m desperate to get down on paper.
I’ve held onto thoughts for months, possibly years, and at times it can be very stressful. My mind’s all over the place.
I also see humorous material - which is my genre - all around me so I keep adding to my list all the time. Ha ha, I wish I could get writer’s block once in a while to give myself a break.
I mentioned above that it must be tough on a writer’s family, and that’s very true. Although I work in construction management I’m hopeless at D.I.Y. A lot of blokes at work say, “There are a few jobs the missus wants me to do over the weekend,” but Sue does most of the D.I.Y. jobs in our house, only calling on me for something that requires strength. She’s a very hard worker, a machine, but tends to tut and sigh about it a lot. You can’t really blame her, can you?
I’ve got a friend who sits on the sofa and snuggles up with her boyfriend every night to watch telly. She could never live with a writer. But saying that I don’t really think Sue understands or appreciates the mind of a writer either, even after all these years. I sometimes feel she thinks I’m wasting my time, but it’s not as if I’m down the bookies or the pub or chasing other women!
There are TV programmes we like to watch together and as I feel family time is important I’ll always come in and watch with them. So I’ll give up writing time to sit together and watch a TV show, and as soon as it starts both Sue and our son get out their I Pads and start searching out stuff on those. So once again I feel like I’m on my own in the room, and want to get back to my writing.
It’s a wretched occupation, that of the writer.
Karl Wiggins
I'm working on an Agony Uncle book that I am really, really excited. I don't want to give too much away, but I get them no slack!
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